Chapter 10/

Maths.

Groan.

"The x-axis, y-axis. Capiche?" Mr. Heldon asks, his right index finger points at the scribble he wrote on the board and he nods his head slightly, sort of prodding us to nod along.

I understood, as I had tuition last year on this year's Maths. But I a lot of guys were at the far corner of the room, joking around

"GAY!" Marcus shouted, the guy with the unibrow, remember?

'YOU'RE the one that's gay." His gay friend answered, with a roar of chuckles tailing after that comment. Mr. Heldon turns to face them, and they mimicked a zipped face, and mouths sorry before collapsing into gurgles of laughter again.

"Because of you, pop quiz will be given. Now." Mr Heldon announced smugly, like he was finding an excuse to conveniently drop a bomb quiz in the middle of our lives.

A few girls' mouths' opened wide, and I realized mine was touching my feet. I'm in NO mood of doing a pop quiz now, mind you.

The boys immediately recomposed themselves and looked almost sorry, but Mr. Heldon wasn't going to give in.

He shuffled to the table and starts leafing over the hundreds of pages of quiz, and shuffles them professionally before passing them out, one by one, to every person's shock-stricken face. We were so busy with shock that we forgot to blame it on the stupid idiotic boys.

I knew Mr. Heldon was somehow an evil genius/ very nerdy teacher. Look at the evident:

He had already brought the quiz today, so he was planning on giving it to us today.

"This will be tested on chapter 5, whatever I've just taught in front of the class." He walks behind the class, passing more paper. I bury my face in my hands and pray that the bell will ring soon.

"And for all you praying that the bell will ring soon, don't. As you know, my teaching skills already included the mind of 'how to think as a teen'. So you will then bring the quiz back home."

Some of us carved a small smile on our faces - we had like, three choices. To do, To not do, and to refer and do- as the papers were handed to us.

"Wait, there's a loophole." He says and suddenly stops. I realize how he said 'loophole' sounds kind of different. It sounded like he wanted it to sound impactful, and he was giving so much of emphasize on it. It sounded like, 'LOOOOOUPOL!'. Without the H.

"You are prohibited on reference. And I mean, NONE at all. Not even asking your parents, your tutors, or for some of you, your dogs. And I've carefully analyzed your work, so if you score beyond my expectations, it is likely that you have asked for help. Then you're in big trouble."

Oh, how terrible is he?

So what if, suddenly we studied real hard and scored 100 when we failed the last one, we'd be suspected of copying?

But then again, it's unlikely since none of us really DO study...especially not maths.

A few shameless groans surfaced, before Mr. Heldon puts on a very strict face and everyone starts doing this maths quiz.

*

Not even past 5 minutes, hands shoot up like they were destined to. "Mr. Heldooon!" Marcus drawled, his eyes squinting at the question on the paper while he was obviously calling for help. This is the thing with Mr.Heldon: He could look like he's strict and inhuman for giving pop quizzes, but he genuinely wanted us to pass.Even if it meant giving out 70% of the clue and going really desperate about the answer and how to answer it, and before long, we would have figured it out.

"Yes?..." he almost flung himself to Marcus and his panting suddenly audible. "What is it?"

"What is this?" Marcus nonchalantly applied, pointing the question with the tip of his pen disgustedly.

Mr. Heldon sighs, "It's the x-axis...and you're..." he reads for a while, "required to find the coordinate of the y-axis."

"We learnt no axis." Marcus remarked, his eyebrows shooting up.

"We just did, Marcus. While you were joyfully calling your friend.." he seemed uncomfortable, "homosexual."

Marcus and all the other guys laughed at our teachers' clear discomfort and started going all, "GAY, HOMOSEXUAL." Boys share the same brain, I tell you. Just a few seconds later, about 10 more people shot their hands up.

"Teacher, what is the meaning of coordinates?"

"Mr. H, what is this dot here doing? Waiiit...or is it just my boogie? Nope, I'm sure it's a dot."

"Dude! What's it asking. Equidistant...?"

"Mr. Heeeeldonnn, look at this question, it's ridiculous. It's asking you to measure a slanted line. Ugh, come on."

I was wrong, all of them share a same brain.

*

I walked out briskly after Maths quiz. Thankfully, I finished it within the time. Unthankfully, I was the only one. So it left a lot of unfinished business like, "Did she refer to an invisible book or something?" or, "She didn't, she was on luck."

Becks was already at my locker and as I reached her, she saw the scowl on my face and decided not to ask me. I keyed in the locker's combination and pushed my books forcefully to the back of the locker.

"People these days just think too much." I remarked, giving Becks a hint as she casually leans against Jen Dane's locker and starts looking at her nails.

A voice sounded distant, but not long after, an announcement was made through the loud speakers.

"Attention: This is Jennifer Dane. This year, we are once again electing our Class President. As you already know, I've been in that job for three years, but surely, there will be no stop to whoever of you who cares to give it a chance. Please proceed to the office next morning, for enquiries."

I don't know what, but I almost felt....willing.